Slow Down, Your Moving Too Fast • European’s increase in income in less work while Americans use it for more consumption • there is a negative relationship between hours worked and life satisfaction • 17% of Americans say they loose sleep over work • Families are more fractured, and a generation of single parents has exploded • planes, ships, cars and trucks all often travel at speeds far above maximum fuel efficiency • the average American driver admits he takes dangerous risks behind the wheel to save precious time • about a third of all car crashes involve speeding • Driving at 55 instead of 65 cuts CO2 emissions of by about 20% • Americans work more because wages are less compressed in the US than Europe • the incentives to work harder and be promoted are stronger • 1 in 6 Americans feel they can’t go on vacation because of work • Planes could reduce emissions by slowing down 10 percent
Weeks Worked Per Year • US 46.16 • France 40.54 • Germany 40.57 • Italy 40.99
Usual Weekly Hours per Worker • US 39.39 • France 36.21 • Germany 36.48 • Italy 37.42
Why is this a Sustainability Problem? • People work in order to consume • Being busy keeps people from knowing what’s going on in the world • Kids are shielded from the problems that their generation will face • Energy is severely wasted when traveling at such inefficient speeds • Time and money is spent to fix health problems • People don’t have time to get involved and work for changes the world needs • People don’t know how make a difference
Stakeholders • People, mostly Americans • Gasoline Companies • Children • Families • Communities • Job Market/Employers • Unions
References • Alesina, Alberto, Edward Glaeser, and Bruce Sacerdote. "Why Do Americans Work so Hard? Work and Leisure in the USA." Harvard University. Print. • "Americans Are Working Too Hard." USA Today. Sept. 2001. Web. <web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=4&hid=12&sid=64e00fd6-49f7-4797-91e5-b45ff20b951a@sessionmgr12>. • Carey, John. "We Could Be Moving Too Fast." Washington Times 8 Aug. 2003. Print. • Presscott, Edward. "Why Do Americans Work So Much More Than Europeans?" Web. 19 Mar. 2010. <web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=12&sid=64e00fd6-49f7-4797-91e5-b45ff20b951a@sessionmgr12&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=13791521>. • ROSENTHAL, ELISABETH. "Slow Trip Across Sea Aids Profit and Environment." New York Times [New York] 16 Feb. 2010. Print. • SLOW DOWN; WE MOVE TOO FAST. Christian Science Monitor, 08827729, 3/28/2005, Vol. 97, Issue 85
Slow Down, Your Moving Too Fast
• European’s increase in income in less work while Americans use it for more consumption
• there is a negative relationship between hours worked and life satisfaction
• 17% of Americans say they loose sleep over work
• Families are more fractured, and a generation of single parents has exploded
• planes, ships, cars and trucks all often travel at speeds far above maximum fuel efficiency
• the average American driver admits he takes dangerous risks behind the wheel to save precious time
• about a third of all car crashes involve speeding
• Driving at 55 instead of 65 cuts CO2 emissions of by about 20%
• Americans work more because wages are less compressed in the US than Europe
• the incentives to work harder and be promoted are stronger
• 1 in 6 Americans feel they can’t go on vacation because of work
• Planes could reduce emissions by slowing down 10 percent
Weeks Worked Per Year
• US 46.16
• France 40.54
• Germany 40.57
• Italy 40.99
Usual Weekly Hours per Worker
• US 39.39
• France 36.21
• Germany 36.48
• Italy 37.42
Why is this a Sustainability Problem?
• People work in order to consume
• Being busy keeps people from knowing what’s going on in the world
• Kids are shielded from the problems that their generation will face
• Energy is severely wasted when traveling at such inefficient speeds
• Time and money is spent to fix health problems
• People don’t have time to get involved and work for changes the world needs
• People don’t know how make a difference
Stakeholders
• People, mostly Americans
• Gasoline Companies
• Children
• Families
• Communities
• Job Market/Employers
• Unions
References
• Alesina, Alberto, Edward Glaeser, and Bruce Sacerdote. "Why Do Americans Work so Hard? Work and Leisure in the USA." Harvard University. Print.
• "Americans Are Working Too Hard." USA Today. Sept. 2001. Web. <web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=4&hid=12&sid=64e00fd6-49f7-4797-91e5-b45ff20b951a@sessionmgr12>.
• Carey, John. "We Could Be Moving Too Fast." Washington Times 8 Aug. 2003. Print.
• Presscott, Edward. "Why Do Americans Work So Much More Than Europeans?" Web. 19 Mar. 2010. <web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=12&sid=64e00fd6-49f7-4797-91e5-b45ff20b951a@sessionmgr12&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=13791521>.
• ROSENTHAL, ELISABETH. "Slow Trip Across Sea Aids Profit and Environment." New York Times [New York] 16 Feb. 2010. Print.
• SLOW DOWN; WE MOVE TOO FAST. Christian Science Monitor, 08827729, 3/28/2005, Vol. 97, Issue 85